Ice Fishing Guru Tony Roach on His New TV Show, His New Lure, and Everything Ice Fishing

Q. We know you love ice fishing, and you've made your livelihood as a premier ice fishing guide on Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota. How did you get into ice fishing? Do you remember the first time you went ice fishing and caught your very first fish?

Tony: I do. You know, I had been ice fishing long before I was a guide – from the time I was a kid. I fished all the time. I grew up on a lake-river system. And in the winter, I would ice fish right out in front of my parent’s house. Back then – more than 20 years ago – I used a StrikeMaster hand auger and a couple of rods and reels. 

I got my first StrikeMaster gas auger when I was probably 11- or 12 years old, and my first depth finder right around that age, too. So, I just sort of hit the ground running. I was able to fish kind of similar to how I fish in the summer by drilling holes down the break line out from my parent’s house. I kept improving my approach. I learned that by drilling lots of holes, I could catch more fish. Eventually, my ice fishing turned into drilling holes and hopping from one to another to find fish and catch them. It’s what I call ice trolling.  

Years later, I became an open-water guide and at that time, there weren’t a lot of ice guides. I saw the nearby resorts with rented ice houses. So, I started to attract clients with my ice-trolling approach. I would drill lots of holes on gravel bars and mud flats and put people on lots of fish and it quickly caught traction. I was able to build a customer base pretty quickly because I was going out and catching fish when others weren't. I had some TV opportunities back then, in the early 2000s, I started to build momentum within the fishing industry. And lo and behold, I was able to make a living year-round fishing -- not just in open water. And so that's where my whole ice guiding business kind of fell into place.

Q. Why do you love ice fishing so much?

Tony: I like fishing all year long, in every season. I just plain love to fish.  I love different destinations for different species. I love pan fishing in the spring and then, walleye fishing, smallmouth bass fishing, then you get into summer patterns. I love using different patterns for fish. I like different fishing styles. 

As for ice fishing, it’s just a different kind of fishing. It's really interactive. You're sitting over the top of schools of fish and you're watching them strike. And now, with a sonar and underwater camera, you've got live viewing, which is a whole other type of fishing experience.

I just love the challenge of going out and finding fish, figuring them out, even when it gets tough. It’s what drives me as a person. That's what I love doing. I am super passionate about it. I've been doing this professionally for almost 20 years now. And that passion hasn't dimmed at all. I'm just as excited every day to get up and get out and get after it as I did when I first started.

Q. You're going to have a new TV show called “Dialed In Angling,” what do you hope your viewers will get out of your new show?

Tony: So for me, in addition to you know, going out and figuring out fish, I love helping other people catch fish and educating other anglers on what's going on right now. 

The cool part about Dialed In Angling is in addition to talking about proven approaches to ice fishing, the latest lures, and the newest technology, we’re going to film this show each week and then air it that same week – it’s as close to live fishing as you can get. We’re going to go to destinations that are attainable for our viewers -- all around the Midwest – throughout the Ice Belt. Lakes and rivers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota and South Dakota. If you watch one of our episodes, the very next day our viewers could go to that same destination and deploy the same techniques that we’re using on the show to catch fish. 

And I’m going to be joined by some of my favourite ice anglers – people like me who love to share their knowledge and who are just as passionate about fishing – help our viewers learn how to catch more fish. 

Q. Your new show is being produced by Ron Schara Productions, which is behind a number of quality TV programs that folks throughout the country love. What's it like to work with those guys so far? 

Tony: I'm excited to work with Ron Schara Productions. They're one of the best in the industry. Obviously, I've worked with them in the past, on Minnesota Bound. I grew up watching and reading Ron's articles, and he’s a close friend to my Uncle Gary (Gary Roach). I've gotten to know Ron over the years and what I love about the folks at Schara Productions is they're super passionate about everything they do -- whether it's hunting or fishing, they're all in and their production team is the cream of the crop when it comes to creating quality content and bringing the viewers and the consumers into their shows.

Q. The name of the show is “Dialed In Angling” Can you speak to the phrase “dialed in?” What does that really mean to you and was it what do you want that to convey to your viewers - "Dialed In"?

Tony: For those who don’t know, I spend well over 200 days on the water every year – on open water and on ice. As an angler, when you're “dialed in,” you are in the flow – everything is working. You’re on the spot where the fish are. You’re using techniques that attract and catch fish. Your equipment is working as it should. You’re using the right lures. You’re in the groove. To me, that’s what “dialed in” means. And what I want to do is help other anglers get “dialed in,” too. It’s such an incredible experience when everything you planned is working. That’s what I want to show on the show. 

Q. So in your first year, what lakes do you think you're going to be featuring? Will the show take place entirely in Minnesota? Or are you going to go to other parts of the ice belt like Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, or even Canada?

Tony: I don’t want to reveal all of the lakes that we’re planning to fish right now, but on the show (check it out on YouTube), we will be fishing lakes throughout the Ice Belt. Because of the way we’re going to film the show from week to week, we have the option to go where the bite is hot. It could be Red Lake. It could be Devil’s Lake, the Glacial Lakes in South Dakota, Green Bay, Mille Lacs. We have a good line-up planned right now, but it may evolve. 

Keep this in mind: I’m on the water right now, fishing in the fall. To me, there’s a direct correlation between the lures we use now and what’s going to work for this coming ice fishing season. I’m super excited about the potential of this format and about getting ice anglers out there on fish.

Q. When it comes to ice fishing, a lot of guys naturally think of species such as walleye, crappie, or jumbo perch. Will you be highlighting other species, such as lake trout, northern pike, bass, and even, eelpout?

Tony: I get excited about all of the different angling opportunities that are out there. When I have a day off, I go and try different things, and different lures, and explore different bodies of water. And most certainly, for the show, we will make sure to fish for the core species, but there a lot of other species that we’ll explore, too.

Q. Can you reveal at this time any special guests who might be joining you on the show this season?

Tony: I don't want to spoil it. But I promise a great lineup of special guests who will be joining me throughout the season. I will guarantee that everyone who joins us is as passionate about ice fishing as me. And I promise you're not only going to learn a lot from me, but you're going to learn a lot from the other contributors on the show.

Q. So, with this hardwater season, Rapala VMC is introducing the new VMC Rattling Roach Spoon, which you helped them to develop. What was it like to work with the folks at Rapala VMC to develop this new lure and why should ice anglers stop at their favourite retailer and pick up a bunch of these new lures?

Tony: Working with Rapala VMC’s Research and Development (R&D) team was incredible. They are absolutely top-notch. They nailed this lure. I’m so excited about it.

I think ice anglers are going to love this lure. It's a great multi-species lure and it comes in the greatest colours in the world. In addition to the colours, the spoon itself is sort of a hybrid between being a spoon lure and being a rattling bait. It fishes a little heavier than your typical flutter spoon, but it's got that really nice glass rattle chamber that's not going to screw up the action of the spoon.

And then of course the treble hook, made with super sharp VMC hooks, is dressed with marabou hair. Any angler that has ever fished with marabou knows that marabou comes alive in the water. The marabou used for the Rattling Roach Spoon is like nothing else I’ve seen.

As you might I’ve had plenty of time to test this new lure firsthand and I can tell you, walleyes absolutely love it. Perch absolutely love it. Trout love it. There are going to be a lot of fish caught with this new lure.

Q. Are you going to be demonstrating the new spoon on the show?

Tony: For sure! We’re going to show the new lure in action on the show, as well as a number of other lures from Rapala and VMC that have been designed for ice fishing.

Q. Sounds like you’re a long-time fan of StrikeMaster ice augers – going back to when you were a kid. Why do you rely upon StrikeMaster augers today?

Tony: A couple of reasons. First, they're dependable. Second, they're the fastest auger out there. If you’re going to fish like me and drill a lot of holes, you need an auger you can depend upon and one that can get the job done fast.

With the development of StrikeMaster’s lithium battery line of augers, we’re on the forefront of new ice fishing technology. I love using the StrikeMaster 24V Auger. It’s super light and you can drill a ton of holes with it. For even more power, there’s StrikeMaster’s 40V Auger – it’s the fastest auger out there.

You know, when battery-powered augers first came out, I thought there was no way I would go away from a gas auger. That changed in a matter of about two days. When I tried the StrikeMaster 40V Auger, I never picked up a gas auger again. Now that that has evolved into the 24V, and the Lite Flite Lazer Drill -- it gives the ice anglers another option. So regardless of where our viewers fish in the Ice Belt, StrikeMaster has created an auger to match their fishing style. I enjoy working with StrikeMaster. I always have, and I will always run a StrikeMaster auger.

Q. There are a lot of folks, even up here in the Northland, that have never gone ice fishing. Why should they try it? Even just once.

Tony: I feel that ice fishing is super cool and interactive. There's a lot of electronics that make it fun. Ice Fishing is also a very affordable sport. And it's very comfortable. Today's ice angler has the comforts of basically open water. I mean, you've got the electronics that match open water, you've got the shelters, the rods and reels, ice fishing specific lines, and a lot of lure choices designed for ice fishing. You know, you've got everything that rivals open water fishing, and you know that that's something that wasn't available, let's say 20 years ago.

It's also very social. It's a fun social sport. You know, in a boat, you can only fit a few people in a boat, but ice fishing, whether it's a big pond or a wheelhouse, you can involve a lot more people.

And, it’s a great family sport. With insulated ice fishing houses and shelters, its fun to take the family fishing. We can be comfortable and have fun catching fish together. We sometimes go out with friends, and everybody loves it.  It’s something you have to try.

Q. What is your number one rule to success when it comes to ice fishing?

Tony: To me, it’s about helping other anglers learn how to catch fish. I really believe in sharing my knowledge with others and helping newcomers be successful on the water. That’s what got me hooked on fishing – people helping me.  That’s what “dialed-in” angling is all about. It's all about helping others, such as our viewers, get just as dialed into ice fishing as me and our contributors.

Q. When you look into the future -- as you think about your kids going ice fishing years from now, 10, 20, or 30 years from now -- what do you see for the future of ice fishing?

Tony: There are many things that are changing. The electronics are always evolving. The gear, the equipment, and the way we fish continues to get better and more comfortable.

Fishing will continue to be a great sport for kids. You know, when I was in college, I did a ton of ice fishing because I didn't need a boat and I didn't need a truck. The thing is, anyone can do it. I love seeing my kids and their friends out fishing. And then when they're done, they're asking me about fishing, what they should do and what techniques that they should use what lures they should be using. And when you can get a kid that is 12, 13, 14, or 15 years old absolutely hooked on a sport like that, where they're outside being interactive with their friends, or they're not cooped up playing video games or on their phone the entire weekend. I think that in itself is a win.

So, yes, I think the future of ice fishing is bright. It's still gaining traction, and you know, up here in the Ice Belt, it’s another reason to get outside, in addition to other outdoor sports, such as snowmobiling, hockey, or skiing.

Q. So you got this new TV show. That has got to be a dream job. And you’re a professional guide. You’re working with the No. 1 lure company in the world to create signature lures. Let me ask, “Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your 18-year-old self?”

Tony: What can I say? I am living the dream. I get to go fishing for a living. Fishing is in my DNA. I'm just as passionate about fishing as I was when I was 18.